On October 8, Lieutenant General Muzher al-Izawi of the Iraqi Army told the Iraqi al-Sumaria news TV channel that the Iraqi Army, security forces and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) launched a security operation against ISIS cells in Hawd al-Zoor area 40km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Lit. Gen. al-Izawi revealed that the operation will be launched from three directions with the support of the Iraqi Air Force. The decision to launch the operation was likely taken after ISIS cells carried out a number of hit-and-run attacks, and sabotage operations against the Iraqi Police and civilians during the last week.

On October 8, the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq announced that ISIS cells kidnaped and executed the local administrator of Saif Saad village near Hawd al-Zoor area.

In a related development, Iraqi Army Brigadier General Yahya al-Rasul, spokesman for the Iraqi Joint Operations Room, said that the Iraqi Army is preparing to launch a military operation to liberate Rawa town and al-Qa’im city near the Syrian-Iraqi border according to Iraqi sources.

Rawa town and al-Qa’im city are considered the last two strongholds of ISIS in Iraq. The operation to liberate these areas will likely begin soon, as the Iraqi Army and the PMU already has a large force deployed east of Rawa tow.

big part of iraq is still under isis control. lot of work still ahead until the nightmare of ISIS is old news.

FlorianGeyer

This time the Iraqi forces must not bow to US pressure to slow down the liberation of the Syrian/Iraq borders.

Solomon Krupacek

do not be sure

Cheryl Brandon

Good plan Iraqi forces; May you meet your fellow soldiers on the Syrian borders and, may you regain stolen territories. Keep kicking the arses of the rats.

Terra Cotta Woolpuller

No borders have been changed and no redrawing ever took place all there is in the region is a bunch of illegal land squatters, thieves and terrorists.

Terra Cotta Woolpuller

They are planning to attack when the SAA is marching towards Abukamal this will keep the ISIS mercenaries terrorists busy on 2 flanks. Let’s hope the US doesn’t try and manipulate the Kurds into doing something stupid.

Vitex

The Kurds appear to have lost interest, at least temporarily. Maybe Russia made them an offer they couldn’t refuse? :)

dutchnational

Pesh Merga’s do not operate 40kms from Baghdad.

They have their own anti sleeper cell operations though, reports can be found on KRG media.

Beyond that, they are at the time aound Kirkuk fully occupied with the many IS fighters and their families that surrendered to them around Hawija. Sorting that mess out, all of them suddenly were only cooks and administrators, takes time and manpower.

Terra Cotta Woolpuller

Yes , the Peshmerga who came to cook those who protested against the referendum and the others administrating punishments, heard that one before.

Terra Cotta Woolpuller

ISIS ran to their brothers and sisters in the Peshmerga , what do you expect they have to kill the Arabs that are in ISIS , after that give the ISIS Kurds Peshmerga uniforms.

Ronald

Iraqi PMO’s are already deployed near Al Qa’im , my wish , is that they drive up the east side of the river , and meet the SAA , across from Mayadin , giving the SAA a beach head to make their crossing less exposed . Then back down to Al Bukamal , and Al Qa’im . They will likely need to be sieged. Those are the last two ISIS “strongholds” , the rest are scattered desert outposts with check points , except of course the US at Al Tanaf .

dutchnational

How can one bomb sleeper cells?

Sleeper cells do not act as once they act, they are not sleeper cells anymore.